The Portland daily press., 1887-07-11


This impaired to Madge; she volunteered
at once to call Ann. Kissing me quietly, she
glided away.
All me! such long minutes as those were,
while was alone with that wardrobe. Once
the door opened a wee bit, then closed again.
Would they never come? Maybe they had
deserted me. Just then Madge appeared,
and, holding her watch before me, showed
me she had been gone only five minutes.
Ann came soon, making great racket as
she always did.
Deed and she wasn't going to stay down
there What with the beast of a dog and
Jenny snoring, she couldn't sleep wink
We leased her, and had as much fun to all
all appearances as we would have had under
the most favorable circumstances.
Only twelve o'clock!
Il shall be as gray as rat if this monoto-
ny continues much longerw telegraphed
Maude.
AS for me, l had perverse desire to go to
sleep. Madge commenced to read aloud. 1
yawned so omineusly, that frowning savage
ly upon me- she tossed the book across the
room.
AS minute after minute passed, with no
sign of life within the wardrobe, AIMS face
settled into incredulity, and fully expected
she would investigate matters for herself.
One o'clock
Out stepped our man with gallant bow.
Excuse me, ladies but your wardrobe is
uncomfortable, and as you seem determined
to sit up all night, couldn't afford to wait
longer"
Ann walked to the door, locked it, and
pocketed the key. There was an instantane-
GUS display of fire arms.
"You see that we are prepared for you,"
said cody.
He turned pale and being himself unarmed,
was for moment completely noDplussed.
don't think he had much faith in our
ability to use our weapons, for he did not
hesitate to rush at Ann with a chair, evident
ly intending to make our number one less.
By this time my nerves were perfectly
steady, and gave him gentle reminder
in the arm, so that he was in measure help
less.
II don't like to think of the hours that
| followed. The fellow was coward, yet he
kept us on the alert all the time We insist
| ed persuasively upon his combining himself
Il W ohO Co1uOi VI buC lOOiIs Dub VIC COulu lOt
prevent him from hurting at us every availa-
BILE thing within his reach. A cologne bottle
was aimed at my head with precision. A
scream from Madge warned me, and, throw
ing up my arm to ward it off, / received an
ugly cut on the wrist. Nothing more seri-
GUS happened.
By-and-by his curiosity overcame him, and
he gruffly questioned us, asking how we
knew he was in the house, how long we had
| known it, closing his crDss-examination by
pointing at Ann, and graciously inquiring
show that ole fool came to blunder up
| there?"
you're deep onas" was his comment
Holding up bottle of chloroform, he said,
admiringly, There's the thing that would
have quieted you down, if you'd given me
half chance"
Half after two
Madge looked at me and simply saying,
"You need Ann more than you do me" un-
fastened the door and disappeared.
/ believe the house is haunted. At any
rate, dozens of times l heard mysterious
footsteps, up stairs, down stairs, everywhere.
Verify, whole legion of spirits must have
been abroad.
1 could not keep still. My nervous prone
made up and down the room attracted the
mans attention. He laughed, tauntingly
andcomplacently informed me that it was
his ''opinion I'd give out pretty SOON"
Ann watched me anxiorsly, knowing that
my slender stock of strength was almost ex-
hausted.
Away off caught the rumble of the stage.
Ann read the news in my face, and grew
jubilant.
4 Nearer and nearer it came. Soon / could
hear voices in the yard. A short delay, and
the door opened noiselessly, admitting half a
dozen men.
have faint remembrance of being led
from the room-of hearing Madge and my
self lauded to the skies for our bravery.
Then, there was blank.
When became conscious, Madge and a
stranger were with me. | remember having
seen him directing the arrangements which
were made for the disposal of the prisoner.
Proud Madge, who had naughty con-
tempt for tears, was crying nervously, just
like any other woman.
Meeting my gaze, the gentleman smilingly
remarked,
"You are Miss Sue Banks, am sure
Slightly amazed, acknowledged my name.
"Have you not heard your cousin Will
speak of Harry Nelson? am he"
Impulsiyely sprang up. and grasping
both his hands, commenced to say-I don't
know what, for suddenly l found was "act-
ing the weeping willow" as Madge used to
say.
i had heard Harry Nelson's praises sung
constantly for the last three years and, as /
was Wills favorite cousin, l did not doubt
that Mr.. Nelson was pretty well acquainted
with me.
He left the next afternoon, returning in
the evening with Aunt Julia and viii, so we
really had an enjoyable time to the end of
the week.
| shall not tell you all that happened be-
fore papa and mamma returned. This much
you may know. Harry was in the library a
long time with papa the day they came home,
and Madge wearing an elegant diamond ring
on her engagement finger.
She said apologetically,-
"Will and / have known each other so
long"
Never mind what became of the two vii
lains, / haye not seen them since that night.
If you wonld like to hear this same story
with variations" you have only to visit our
village. Before you have been there day,
you will have heard it half dozen times